"What the heck!?" I muttered in disbelief, staring at the scene before me.
[Seiran High School]
That name… I knew it so well that just a glance was enough to make my heart skip a beat. There was no mistaking it. This was the school from my favorite game —Crossroads of Love.
Crossroads of Love was a popular visual novel set in Seiran High, a prestigious school full of drama, romance, and unexpected twists. What made it stand out was the presence of two main characters — one male, one female — who weren't in love with each other. Instead, they each had their own branching romance routes with a wide cast of characters.
The game allowed players to switch between their perspectives, offering two sides of the same story. Some scenes even let you control both characters at once. Every choice affected the storyline, unlocking countless endings: romantic, comedic, even tragic.
The emotional depth and well-written cast made Crossroads of Love a fan-favorite for years.
But… why was I standing in front of this school?
I tried to remember. I had been walking outside, holding my console while playing Crossroads of Love, as always. Then I made a stupid mistake. I crossed the street without checking the signal. A truck — yeah, the infamous "Truck-kun" came straight at me. I remembered the impact, the pain, then darkness.
And now I was here.
Still dazed by this familiar but surreal world, I suddenly noticed two very recognizable faces ahead.
It was them. The protagonists of Crossroads of Love.
Ayaka Shirogane. Long black hair flowing in the wind, golden eyes full of gentle charm. Her black uniform matched her elegant presence, and her delicate yet composed aura was just like I remembered. She was the perfect heroine — kind, thoughtful, and graceful.
Ren Ichijou. Brown hair, sharp green eyes behind black-rimmed glasses. His blue Seiran uniform was neat and crisp. Quiet, intelligent, a bit aloof — the classic cool genius type that always had more going on beneath the surface.
Seeing them in real life, standing right there in front of me, made my heart race. This was unreal. Even if Truck-kun had just crushed me, I felt completely fine now.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the speaker above. "All new students, please proceed to the main auditorium for the entrance ceremony."
I snapped out of my trance. Right, this was the beginning of the game. The opening day. I didn't know what was going on, but I had to go along with it.
I followed the crowd into the massive auditorium. The lights, the chairs, the whole space,it was all so vivid and detailed. Way too real to be just a dream or a game.
I tightened my grip on the school bag over my shoulder. The fabric felt solid. The weight was real.
I had to know. Was I still me?
Digging through the bag, I found a small pocket mirror tucked away in a side compartment. I took a deep breath and flipped it open.
My face stared back.
Still me. No changes. I let out a small sigh of relief. At least, in this strange new world, I was still myself.
Scanning the room for a place to sit, my eyes landed on someone sitting alone near the back. It was Ren Ichijou, completely focused on reading a mystery novel.
Of course.
Ren's love for detective stories was one of his signature traits. I remembered the hilarious side event where he entered a school detective contest and won — simply because his final rival had to quit when his mom called him home for dinner.
I knew this guy inside and out. So without hesitation, I walked over and sat next to him, flashing a friendly smile.
"Is that 'The Final Silence' by Kisaragi Aoi? That one's a classic. The twist in chapter five totally blew my mind."
Ren looked over, a little surprised. "You know this author?"
"Yeah. I love how he paces his mysteries. Slow and methodical, but the clues are always hiding in plain sight."
He gave a small nod, his expression shifting slightly. "Not many people our age know about 'The Final Silence.' How far in are you?"
I grinned, pretending to think, even though I already knew the whole story. "Just reading chapter four. The part where the assistant obviously knows more than she lets on."
Ren nodded again, his eyes drifting back to the page, but his expression more relaxed now.
Looked like we'd just become mystery nerds together.